Invasive Plant Program Update

Lesser Celandine Treatments

Lesser Celandine. Source. Bugwood.org

This spring the County’s contractor, Invasive Plant Control, Inc. (IPC), will continue treatment for invasive plants in several parks. Starting in March, they will focus on treating Lesser Celandine in the short-two week window just before and at the start of flowering. IPC will be treating Lesser Celandine at several Natural Resource Conservation Areas, such as sections of Gulf Branch Park, Barcroft Park, Donaldson Run Park and Glencarlyn Park. The recommended treatment method for Lesser Celandine is a foliar application of a Glyphosate-based herbicide with a water-safe surfactant so that the herbicide will stick to and penetrate the leaves of the plant. The best time to treat Lesser Celandine is early in the season, before other desirable plant species such as our native spring wildflowers are present.

Completion of “Active Management” for Two Sites

Arlington County uses the following terminology for identifying the status of invasive plant removal projects.

Actively Managed (treatment and retreatment) – the total acres in which an acceptable method (chemical, biological, mechanical, manual or Integrated Pest Management) was performed for the specific objective of controlling the spread and/or reducing the density of invasive plants.

Maintained – the total acres maintained in an invasive plant-free state so that annual or periodic maintenance treatments are required for one percent or less of the original infestation area.

Two sites will be concluding active management in FY 2016, both Barcroft Park and Lacey Woods have been treated for over four years as part of the Invasive Plant Management Program 10 Year Plan and are considered to be at the “invasive plant-free” state. In July, these sites will be transitioned out of active management and will continue to be monitored and maintained using staff and volunteers.

Long-term Maintenance Plan for Lubber Run

Bloodroot a native wildflower that has spread in Lubber Run Park after the removal of invasive plants.

Lubber Run is one of the Invasive Plant Program’s first success stories. In 2005, Arlington residents sought funding through a grant from the County’s Neighborhood Conservation Program for a contracted, multi-year invasive plant removal project in Lubber Run Park. The goal for this project was for Lubber Run to become the first large stream valley park in Arlington where invasive plants are controlled to a level that can be maintained by volunteers and staff. After over five years of management through a contract with Invasive Plant Control Inc., the project has succeeded. Lubber Run is 95% free of targeted invasive plants and serves as an example and inspiration to other volunteers struggling to control invasive plants in their parks. Now, Lubber Run has an exciting new plan for long-term management due to the help of an anonymous donation in FY 2016. The costs of any annual maintenance including staff resources, contracted treatments or monitoring for Lubber Run Park will be covered by this gift. Additionally, neighbors of the park are removing invasive plants from their own properties to limit the spread of invasives back into Lubber Run.

Treatments During FY 2017

Throughout the spring, summer and fall we will continue to treat invasive plants in other parks, including new sections in Gulf Branch Park, by the Nature Center, and Zachary Taylor Park. In total, we will be managing invasive plants in 7 parks on over 214 acres. For more information please contact the Invasive Plant Program at 702-228-1862.